Vehicle-mounting.



A. A. PRATT.

V EHIGLE MOUNTING. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR ALL AW/V A PAW:

WITNESSES 4 mqml M ATTORNEYS I COLUMBIA PMNDGRAPH co.. WASHINIJTON. Dv c.

A. A. PRATT.

VEHICLE MOUNTING. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912, 1,()8Q,847, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEET S-SHEET 2. \J

WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOR a By I 1 ATTORNEYS A. A. PRATT.

VEHICLE MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912.

1,089,847 Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

m xx

G W S l S & Wmfi ATTORNEYS WITNESSES ALLISON A. PRATT, or new YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE-MOUNTIN ea set.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Bee. 9, 1913.

Application filed November 18, 1912. Serial No. 731,977.

To all whom it may concern:

Be ithnown that I, ALLISON A. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of thecity of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Vehicle-Mounting, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. The invention relates to automobiles and like vehicles, and its object is to provide a new and improved vehicle mounting or suspension which isexceedingly sensitive and arranged to take up all jars and jolts inc-ident to the vehicle traveling over rough roads, obstructions and the like, to insure easy and comfortable riding in the vehicle without requiring the use of pneumatic or similar tires, thus reducing tire expense to a minimum and eliminating the danger and delay caused by bursting tires and the like. .For the purposementioned, use is made of a cushioning device interposed between the axle and the vehicle body, the tension of the said device being gradually reduced on the upward movement of the axle and in creas d on the downward movement of the axle, that is, during the time the vehicle wheel passes over an obstruction.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front elevation of the vehicle mounting as applied to an automobile; Fig. 9, is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 4: is a sectional plan View of the same on the line 4-4: ofFig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the presser plate; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the presser plate and the pump connected with the bottom of the casing; Fig. largedsectional side elevation of the valves for a pair of superimposed inflatable balls;-

and Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of the pump cylinder and the hollow stem of the presser plate, the section being on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

As shown inFig. 1, thefront axle A of an automobile or other vehicle carries the front, or steering wheels B, and near each end of the axle Aare clipped or otherwise secured arms C and springs D connected at their free ends with a pivot E in the form of a transverse rod and which form the 7 is an en-:

fulcrum for up and down swinging levers F pivoted at F to the body G of the automobile or othervehicle. In practice a dou- 1 bis spring I) is preferably used on each side of the vehicle body with the lever extending between the two members of the double j spring, as indicated in Fig. 3, and each lever F is provided with arms F engaging the vopposite sides of the two spring members at or near the middle portion thereof. A rib C is arranged between the straight ends of the arm C and extends between the two spring members. The arm C extends forwardly and terminates in a ring 0' encircling a casing H and resting on an annular shoulder H secured to the peripheral face of the casing-H. The casing H is provided with a bottom cap H and a to cap H and between the top H and the top of the ring C is placed v a ring I 4 to securely hold the casing 'rf in position on the ring G of the arm C.

By the arrangement described, the casing Hnroves up and down with the axleA. at the time one or both of the front wheels B pass over an obstruction in the roadway.

The casing H is preferably filled with a non-freezing liquid, such as glycerin, for instance, and within the lower portion of the casing vI-I is arranged a presser plate I provided with a stern J extending through a stufling box H arranged on the top cap H The upper end of the stem J is connected by a link K with the forward end of the lever F so that when the spring .1) is compressed the presser plate I moves downward in the casing II and when the spring D expands the presser plate I moves upward in the casing H as the latter moves bodily with the axle A.

Thepresser plate I is guided in its up and down movement on guideways H arranged vertically on the inner face of the casing H, the guideways H extending into slots or openings I formed in the presser plate I to allow the liquid in the casing H to pass on the opposite faces of the presser plate I during the latters up and down movement in the casing H. The presser plate I is provided with a number of pressure chambers I in communication with iollow ballsL, of rubber or other suitable flexible material, and the tops of the balls are engagedby an intermediate separating plate N on which restsa second set of hollowballs L engaged attheir upperends by a top separating plate 0 normally resting against the under side of the cap H The separating plates rt and O are slidably mounted on the stem J and also engage the guideways H the same as the presser plate I, the said separating plates N and 0 being for the purpose provided with openings N and O, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Each pressure chamber 1 has a valved connection with the corresponding ball L and the superimposed balls L and L have valved connections with each other so that air pressure in a chamber 1 can pass through the corresponding superimposed balls L, L to keep the latter inflated. The separating plate N is provided with pres sure chambers N similar to the pressure chambers I and as the valved connection between the pressure chambers I and the balls L is the same as the connection between the pressure chambers N and the balls L and L, it suflices to describe but one in detail, special reference being had to Fig. 7. In each of the pressure chambers I or N is arranged a valve P for each ball L or L,

the valve P having a hollow stem P extending into the corresponding ball L or L. Each stem P is pressed on by a spring P to allow the valve P to close immediately in case the corresponding ball L or L breaks or bursts, so that this ball is cut out of the sets of balls and the others are not deflated.

011 each valve stem P adjacent the ball L or L is arranged a washer Q between which and the plate N or the top of the presser plate I is interposed a bumper R, made pref erably of rubber, similar to the washers Q and the balls L and L. The portion of the bumper R adjacent the presser plate I and the plate N is curved, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 7, so that when the balls L, L are subjected to pressure then a portion of the pressure is taken up by the bumpers R and the latter prevent a short bend in the walls of the balls L and L owing to the cur vature given to the bumpers R. A bumper R is arranged between the washer Q on top of each ball L and the top plate 0, and the bumper R is provided with a pin R engaging an aperture in the top plate 0 to hold the bumper R in place.

Air is pumped into the pressure chambers I by the use of a pump arranged as follows: The lower portion J of the stem J is made hollow and into it extends a cylinder S secured at its lower end to the lower end of the stem J. In the pump cylinder S works a plunger T secured at its lower end to the bottom cap H of the casing H so as to move with the said casing to produce a pumping action in the cylinder S. The upper end of the cylinder S terminates a distance below the upper end of the hollow portion J and the upper end of the cylinder S is provided with a valve seat S connecting the interior of the cylinder S with the upper end of the hollow portion J. The outer face of the cylinder S is provided with vertically-extending grooves S extending from the top of the cylinder to within a distance of the bottom thereof, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2, and the lower end of each groove S connects with a port J 2 formed in the lower end of the stem J, and the port J is in register with a port 1 leading to a corresponding pressure chamber 1 The plunger T is made hollow and into the lower end screws a nipple U adapted to be connected with a hand pump or other device for forcing compressed air through the nipple U and the plunger T into the cylinder S from which the air can pass by way of the valve seat S, the upper end of the hollow portion J grooves S and ports J 2 and I into the pressure chamber 1 to finally pass by way of the valve P into the balls L and L to inflate the same with a desired pressure.

The upper end of the plunger T is provided with a valve seat T serving to fasten a packing T in place on the upper end of the plunger T to insure proper pumping action of the plunger T in the cylinder S. The lower end of the valve seat T extends into an enlarged bore T of the plunger T and its valve V is provided with a hollow stem V around which is coiled a spring V pressing with its upper end against the under side of the valve V to hold the same against the valve seat T. The lower end of the spring V rests on a washer V on the upper end of the nipple U so that when the latter is screwed up the tension of the spring V is increased and when the nipple U is screwed downward the tension of the spring V is decreased, that is, the tension of the spring V can be adjusted to a predetermined pressure. On top of the valve V is seated an inlet valve WV having a hollow stem W slidingly engaging the stem V, and the stem W is provided at its upper end with an opening W adapted to open into the valve seat T at the time the valve W is moved upward into an open position relatively to the valve V so that air pumped through the nipple U by an air pump or other means can pass into the pressure chambers 1 as previously explained, and when the desired pressure is reached in the pressure chambers T the pump is disconnected from the nipple U and the valve W moves into closed position. In case the pump produces in the pressure chambers 1 pressure exceeding normal pressure to which the spring V has been set then the valve V opens in a downward direction to allow the excess pressure to pass out of the cylinder S by way of the valve seat T, open valve V and large bore T washer V and nipple U into the outer air. The valve seat S is adapted to be closed by a valve X having a stem X mounted to slide in a block J 2 held inthe upper hollow end J of the stem J. A spring X presses the valve X to normally hold the same to the seat S. It is understood that-the valve X opens onpressure within thepump cylinder S but closes onexcessive pressure from the chambers I during compressionof the balls L and L. The cap H is provided with an air escape faucet Y.

The operation is as follows: The balls L and L are normally inflated to a predetermined pressure and when any one of the wheels B passes over an obstruction in the roadway then during the upward movement of'the .axle A the casing H moves up with the axle and in doing so the pressure from the presser plate I is reduced and during the downward movement Of the axle A the casing H moves downwardly so that the pressure on thezpresser plate I is increased and consequentlyzthe shock or jolt incident tothe downward movement of the axle A is taken up by the compressible'balls L, L and hence the shock is not transmitted by the presser plate I, stem J and lever F to the vehicle body G.

It will be noticed that the lever F is'pivotally connectedat E withtlie spring D at a point intermediate the pivot-F, and theconnection with the link Kof the stem J, and the pivot E is located near the pivot F to provide along-leverage for the stem J. Hence any jar or jolt given to the axle A on the wheels B passing over an obstacle in the roadway causes a swinging of the lever F and a consequent increase ordecrease in the tension of the tension device in the casing H so that the jar orjolt is taken up by the tension device .and is not transmitted to the vehicle body G.

It is further understood that most of the shock is absorbed by the cushioning device nearest the wheel passing over the obstruction at the time as that part of the axle rises higher than the one connected with the other pressure. device on the other side of the ve-f hicle. By the use of the cushioning devices referred to the wheels B may be provided.

with ordinary tires instead of the inflatable or pneumatic tires now generally used, and hence tire expense is reduced to a minimum and at the same time all danger and delay caused by bursting tires is eliminated.

When the axle A is raised on the wheels B passing up on an obstruction in the roadway, the springs D are compressed and during this time the pressure of the tension reduced, and when the axle A moves downward on the wheels B passing down on the obstruction the pressure of the tension devices is increased, so that during the up movement of the axle A the jolt or jar is taken up by the springs D and during the downward movement the rebound is taken up by the tension device and the springs D gradually return -to. normal load-sustaining position. The relative'movement ofthe casingrH and the stemJ causes a-reciprocating of the piston T in the cylinder Srandath air in the upper end of the cylinder i-sfgrced into the balls whenever thepressure in the balls is less=than the tension of the spring T as otherwisethe valve V moves into open position andno. air is pumped intoithe balls. It isunderstoodthat the valve Wopens. on the vsuction stroke of the pump :and seats itself-on the return or compression stroke. The stem W of the valve WV is made of a considerable length to provide a long bearing for the inlet valve lV in the relief valve Vso that the valve W'moves readily into open and closed position.

Having thus described my .invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by=Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a'lever pivoted on the vehicle-body, a spring on the axleand on which the said lever is fulcrumed, a casing, an arm attached to the axle and carrying the said casing, amember movable in'the said casing an'd conneoted with the .free end of.the .said lever,-and a series of compressible'balls:within the said casing and engaged by the said movable member.

2. In combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a lever pivoted on the vehicle body, :a spring onthe axle and on whichthe said lever is fulcrumed, a casing,'an arm attached 'to the axle and carryingtlie said casing, a-presser plate movable inthesaiidcasingand provided with a stem pivotally connected with the free end ofthe saidlever; and a series of hollow compressible ballswithin; the casing and pressed by the saidpresser plate.

3. In combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a lever pivoted on the vehicle body, a spring on the axle and on whiclrthe said-leveris fulcrumed, a cushioningdevicehaving a casing, an arm attached to the axle and carry- .ing the said casing, amember movable. in the casing and connected with the said lever,

thesaidv lever having guiding means engag ing the said spring, and cushioning means interposed between the said casing and the said movable member.

4. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing, a presser plate slidable within the casing, an arm for attachment to the axle and carrying the said casing, a lever fulcrumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected with the vehicle body, the said presser plate being connected with the said lever, a pressure chamber in the said presser plate, and a series of hollow compressible balls within the casing and in communication with the pressure chamber, the balls being pressed by the said presser plate.

5. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing, a presser plate 'slidable within the casing, an arm for attachment to the axle and carrying the said casing, a lever fulcrumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected with the vehicle body, the said presser nlate being connected with the said lever, a pressure chamber in the said presser plate, a series of hollow compressible balls within the casing and in communication with the pressure chamber, the balls being pressed by the said presser plate, and an air pump controlled by the said presser plate for pumping air into the said balls.

6. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, a liquid filling the said casing, a series of hollow compressible balls submerged in the said liquid, a lever ful crumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected with the vehicle body, and a presser plate movable in the casing and connected with the said lever, the said presser plate having a pressure chamber in communication with the said hollow balls.

7. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, a liquid filling the said casing, a lever fulcrumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected with the vehicle body, a series of hollow compressible balls submerged in the said liquid, a presser plate movable in the said casing and provided with a pressure chamber, a stem carrying the presser plate and connected with the said lever, a pump cylinder held in the hollow portion of the said stem and provided on its exterior surface with grooves in communication with the said pressure chamber, and a hollow pump plunger secured to the casing and extending into the said pump cylinder.

8. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, a liquid filling the said casing, a lever fulcrumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected with the vehicle body, a series of hollow compressible balls submerged in the said liquid, a presser plate movable in the said casing and provided with a pressure chamber, a stem carrying the presser plate and connected with the said lever, a pump cylinder held in a hollow portion of the said stem and provided on its exterior surface with grooves in communication with the said pressure chamber, a hollow pump plunger secured to the casing and extending into the said pump cylinder, and a spring-pressed valve within the said plunger and controlling the passage of air through the plunger.

9. A cushioning device for vehicles, comprising a casing for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, a liquid filling the said casing, a lever fulcrumed on the vehicle spring and pivotally connected With the vehicle body, a series of hollow compressible balls submerged in the said liquid, a presser plate movable in the said casing and provided with a pressure chamber, a stem carrying the presser plate and connected with the said lever, a pump cylinder held in a hollow portion of the said stem and provided on its exterior surface with grooves in communication. with the said pressure chamber, a hollow pump plunger secured to the casing and extending into the said pump cylinder, a spring-pressed valve within the said plunger and controlling the passage of air through the plunger, and means for regulating the tension of the said spring.

In testimony whereof Lhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLISON A. PRATT.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

